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REPORT 



BLACK OAK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



Aslics of the Cotton Stalk, the coiMposition of Cotton 
Soils, and tlic nature of Rust in Cotton, 



/ 

rjPLA 



J^LAWRENCE SMITH, 

Assayer of the State of South-Carolina; Member of the Annual Association' 

of American Geologists and Naturalists ; Cor. Member of 

the American National Institute, of Natural 

History, &c. 



,u 



CHARLESTON: 
PRINTED BY MILLER & BROWNE, 

1846. 



G 



REPORT. 



The ashes left after the combustion of plants have, until a very 
late period, been considered merely as accidental ingredients, that 
varied in quality and quantity even in the same plant growing in 
the same region ; this incombustible part was therefore looked 
upon as exerting no influence on the health and vigor of the plant. 

The researches of modern chemists have proved the error of this 
supposition, by directing their time and labor and in applying 
knowledge acquired in the laboratory, to agriculture and rural eco- 
nomy in general ; and although among the many views promulgated 
by them, there is some error, the facts that have been brought to 
light, will always make the agriculturist the chemist's debtor, and 
should teach him to regard with proper respect what may in his eye 
appear to be hasty generalization. 

The chemist has pointed out by analysis, that the ashes of plants 
of the same description, though growing in different climes, contains 
the same or similar ingredients. Thus, the pines of Norway and 
Italy when burnt, left earthy portions that are strikingly similar ; 
these also being true of the oaks of the same countries, although 
these latter differed materially from the pines in the character of 
their ashes. 

Let it not be understood, that the amount of the different substan- 
ces present in the ashes of the same plant is so identical, as only to 
vary by the fraction of a grain ; it is sufficient to bear in mind, that 
the leading ingredients are the same, and the whole character of the 
ashes such, as to enable us to infer that they belong to similar plants ; 
the same is true for different parts of the same plants. Were it 
deemed necessary, numerous instances might be cited to prove the 
point in question, but any recent work on agriculture will convince 
the inquirer of this. 

As the character of the ashes of plants is so invariable, it must 
occur to the minds of all, that they play an important part in the 
economy of plants, and without them plants could not grow; such a 
supposition the most rigid and careful experiments have proved to 
be correct. It being also shown that the source from whence the 
ashes comes is the soil, for plants create nothing, but only appro- 
priate to themselves elements already existing ; simply arranging 
them, so as to give I'ise to certain compounds — forming their woody 
portions from elements existing in the atmosphere and water, and 
their earthy parts from the soil, which must contain all the elements 



4 REPOUT ON THE ASHES OF THE COTTON-STALK, ETC. 

necessary, as the absence of cvtn one will be the cause of a sickly 
and impel feet growth. 

Without dwelHng further on this subject, every one must see the 
necessity of having all of the required ingredients present in the 
soil or of supplying them if deficient ; therefore the importance of a 
knowledge of what is the composition of soils upon which we wish 
to grow certain plants. 1 do not pretend to say, that with a thorough 
knowledge of the mere chemical comj'osition of the soil, all the plan- 
ter's ends are to be answered, or that he will obtain the directions 
necessary for the improvement of his soils, as there are other pro- 
perties of the soil besides its composition that influence the growth 
of the plant ; as for instance its texture, which may be open or com- 
pact. If a soil contains all the substances a plant requires, and be 
compact and moist, when an open and dry soil alone is congenial 
to the plant, it will decay or arrive at imperfect maturity. It is for 
this reason that the chemist in analyzing soils has done so little for 
practical agriculture, he has allowed his views to become too narrow- 
ed and not examined sufficiently into other qualities of the soil. In 
fact the only way that practical benefit is to be derived, is, by care- 
ful investigation on their part, and patience on the part of farmers, 
(who must have, in other ways, seen undeniable benefits arising to 
them from the chemist's labors.) If this be attended to, in a few 
years incalculable will be their results to rural economy, and a 
method of analysis will be brought to bear upon soils that will an- 
swer all the required ends. 

The subdivision of the parts of plants into earthy and combusti- 
ble portions, belongs also to animals — in the higher orders of which, 
they appear in some degree separated from each other, the earthy 
parts constituting the mass of the bones. In others however, as the 
worm, insects, &c., they are intimately blended as in the plant. 
The prominent ingredients also of the earthy parts of the vegetable 
and animal kingdoms are the same, which is a natural result, as all 
animals either directly or indirectly ohtain their nourishment frmrt 
^plants. These ingredients are lime, 'phosphoric acid and 2)otash, the 
two first more especially, and they may be considered joar excellence 
the earthy ingredients of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, with- 
out a sufficiency of which, neither one nor the other may expect a 
healthy growth. So then in studying soils these ingredients should 
particularly engross our attention as the subject of this report will 
show. 

The ashes of a healthy cotton stalk six feet high and an inch, in di- 
ameter at the largest part, with some leaves and empty pods, consists 
of- — in 1000 ^?arifs; — 

Lime, ---..... 303. 
Potash, ..-....- 243. 

Phosphoric acid, - . . . - 91. 



REPORT ON THE COMPOSITTON OF COTTON-SOILS, ETC. O 

Magnesia, - 5S. 

Oxide of iron, ------- 4. 

Sulphuric acid, .-•---- 13. 

Chlorine, ..-...- 8. 

Carbonic acid, ------- 270. 

Sand, .-.-...- 5. 

The half per cent, of sand arose from what was on external por- 
tions of the stalk and could not be readily dusted off. The carbonic 
acid arises from the combustion of the plant and does not previously 
exist in it. The chlorine that is but a little over a half per cent., 
the sulphuric acid which is but a little over one per cent., and the 
oxide of iron which is not one half per cent., may be considered as 
ingredients of but little if of any importance to the plant. Thereby 
reducing the really important ingredients to fhosiiihoTic acid, potash, 
Zmeand magnesia ; this last, however, is always to be looked upon 
in plants, in the light of lime, and it can be replaced by lime entirely, 
without prejudice to the plant. The analysis which I have made 
of the cotton wool and seed (but which do not form a part of the 
report) as well as the analysis made by others of the same, show 
that in these a.\so, phosphoric acid, potash and li?ne areWle important 
constituents. In the analysis of your soils then, these have been 
particularly looked to, and with satisfactory results, except in the 
case of potash, which exists in such small quantities in all soils as 
renders it exceedingly difficult to collect and estimate ; but I had 
hoped to overcome this difficulty if my duties did not now call me 
away from home. 

The soils sent were marked by letters, the surface and the sub- 
soil from the same spot being designated by the same letter marked 
1 and 2 respectively. 

A. — Somerton near Somerset Creek, in 1000 j^c-'n'ts- 

1 2 



Sand, 760 SOO 

Clay, - 140 155 

Moisture, 30 25 

Vegetable matter, 70 20 

The portion of 1000 grains of the soil soluble in warm muriatic 
acid furnished : — 

1 2 

Alumina, 3.400 3,000 

Oxide of iron, 2.700 2.500 

Lime, 1.200 1.300 



UEPORT ON THE COMPOSITION OP COTTON-SOILS, ETC. 



Phosphoric acid, 2.000 


2.300 


Chlorine, - - . . . trace. 


trace. 


Potash and soda, .... trace. 


trace. 


Magnesia, 0.300 


0.200 


B. — Ghapcl Hill, (Frierson's,) in 1000 parts. 




1 


2 


Sand, 800 


850 


Clay, 170 


132 


Moisture, 10 


10 


Vegetable matter, 20 


8 



The portion of 1000 grains of the soil soluble in warm muriatic 
acid, furnished : — 

1 2 



Alumina, - - - 


1.200 


1.150 


Oxide of iron, - . . . 


- 1.100 


1.200 


Lime, - 


1.000 


0.600 


Phosphoric acid, 


- 0.160 


0.175 


Chlorine, - . . . 


0.060 


0.040 


Potash and soda, (chiefly soda) 


- 0.080 


0.060 



C. — Chapel Hill, (Frierson's) in 1000 parts. 

1 



Sand, 680 


700 


Clay, 270 


252 


Moisture, 20 


18 


Organic matter, ..... 3o 


30 


The portion of 1000 grains of the soil soluble in warm muriatic 


acid, furnished : — 


.tr- 


1 


2 


Alumina, 1.300 


1.320 


Oxide of iron, - - - - - 1.500 


1.400 


Lime, ...... 0.410 


0.510 


Chlorine, 0.369 


0.250 


Potash and soda, .... 0.520 


0.420 



D. — Ophir, in 1000 parts. 

1 



Land, 800 850 

Clay, 166 122 

Moisture, 12 13 

Vegetable matter, 22 15 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. ' 

The portion of 1000 grains of the soil, soluble in warm muriatic 
acid, furnished : — 



Alumina, -200 2.800 

Oxide of iron, . . , • • • 1-544 1-600 

Phosphoric acid, . J • ■ 0.294 0.367 

Chlorine .... 0.120 0.573 

Potash akd soda, (chiefly potash,) . 0.030 0.450 

Lime. 1-520 3.320 

E. — Pineopolis, (pine barren) in IQ^d parts. 



Sand, 
Clay, . 
Moisture, . 
Vegetable matter, . 



900 

62 

8 

30 



The portion of 1000 grains of the soil, soluble in warm muriatic 

acid, furnished : — 

Ai • . . 0.637 
Alumina, „ _ 

Oxide of iron, 0.o6S 

Lime, ••••■***.. 
/-Ill • . . • trace. 
Chlorine, 

Potash and soda, "^*^®- 

F —Cedar Spring near Hepworth, in 1000 parts. 

1 2 



^ . . . 860 905 

^f^' . • • • • . . 55 50 

Vt -^1 ■ ' * ' . . 25 25 

Moisture, . . • • • fio 20 

Vegetable matter, . . . • • ou 

The portion of 1000 grains of the soil, soluble in diluted muriatic 

acid, furnished : — 12 

„ . . . 2.600 2.800 

^^™^^;. . 0.350 0.360 

Oxide of iron, ,, . • • ^^^^ ^^^^^ 

ij^^'t, ' .\A ' ' ' . 0.050 0.060 

Phosphoric acid, . . • • ^^^^ ^^g^ 

Vo^.i soda', (chiefly sida,) * . • 0-200 0.150 

Sulphuric acid, , ■ • ^'^^q ^^^^^ 
Magnesia, . 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. 

G. — Cedar Spring, western extremity, in 1000 farts. 



1 



Sand, ...... 700 

Clay, ...... 253 

Moisture, ..... 22 

Vegetable raattex*, . . . . .25 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : — 

Alumina, ...... 0.630 

Oxide of iron, ..... 0.900 

Lime, ..... 1.100 

Phosphoric acid, .... 0.025 

Chlorine, ..... 0.320 

Potash and soda, .... 0.400 

H. — Somerton, (Biggin Swamp,) in 1000 parts. 

1 2 



Sand, .... 


810 


870 


Clay, .... 


. 102 


95 


Moisture, 


28 


20 


Vegetable matter, . , 


60 


15 


The portion of 1000 grains soluble in 


warm muriatic acid, fur- 


nished : — 








1 


2 


Alumina, .... 


6.200 


5.500 


Oxide of iron, . 


. 2.300 


2.100 


Lime, . i . . 


0.710 


0.850 


Phosphoric acid, 


. 1.150 


1.210 


Chlorine, .... 


0.230 


0.120 


Potash and soda, 


. 0.520 


0.600 


Sulphuric acid, 


0.510 


O.300 


Magnesia, 


. 0.250 


0.100 


I. — Hog'Sioamp, ( Negrohead,) 


in 1000 parts 


1 


Sand, .... 


, 


760 


Clay, .... 


, 


200 


Moisture, 
Veeetable, 


• 


10 
30 



The part of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, furnished 
Alumina, ..... 2.250 

Oxide of iron, ..... 3.000 
Lime, . . . . . 10.400 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. ^ 

Phosphoric acid, . . . • • ^.220 

Chlorine, . . • • • 0.154 

Potash and soda, (chiefly soda,) . . • 0-080 
this soil effervesced when the acid was poured upon it, 

J —Hog-swamp, ( W. /. Dennis' clay land,) in 1000 parts, 

1 2 

Sand .... 730 775 

«^ • ■ • • • To « 

Moisture, .... 2 tn 

Vegetable matter, . • . 80 40 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid fur- 
nished : — 

1 <* 



Alumina, .... 5.200 4.800 

Oxide of iron. . . • • §.530 8.200 

Lime . . . 1-600 0.850 

Phosphoric acid, . • • O.OSO 0.085 

ChloJine, .... 0.044 0.025 

Potash and soda, (chiefly soda,) . 0.020 0.010 

l^.—Mrs. Prioleau, ( Ward's,) in 1000 parts. 

1 2 

Sand, . - ■ ■ ' ^ III 

Clay, 130 125 

Moisture ^n S 

Vegetable matter, . . • . 70 oO 

The portion of 1000 grains, soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 

nished : — 

1 2 



Alumina 5.400 4.500 

Oxide of iron 4.500 4.020 

Lime . . • • 4.620 3.210 

Phosphoric acid, . . • 0.260 0.280 

L.— il. J. Harvey's, (Dubois,) m lOm parts. 

1 2 

Sand ... 825 862 

f^y . ' . • • • \^o 120 

Moisture. .... f. .1 

Vegetable matter, . . - . -iO lu 
2 



2.300 


1.800 


1.500 


1.650 


0.450 


0.620 


0.120 


0.200 


trace. 


trace. 


0.130 


0.150 



10 ON THE COMPOSITION OP COTTON SOILS. 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : — 



Alumina, .... 

Oxide of iron, . 

Lime, .... 

Phosphoric acid, 

Potash and soda, . 

Magnesia, 

M.—H. HarveifSf Fair forest Swamp, in 1000 parts. 

1 2 

Sand, ..... 820 875 

Clay, . . . . 100 90 

Moisture, .... 30 20 

Vegetable matter, . . . 50 15 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : — 

1 2 

Alumina, .... 1.100 1.500 

Oxide of iron, .... 0.950 0.650 

Lime, . . . . 420 0.610 

Phosphoric acid, . . . 0.060 0.080 

Potash, . . . . trace. trace. 

N. — Eutaw, (Jas. Gaillard,) marled land, in 1000 parts. 
Sand, ...... 800 

Clay, ...... 110 

Moisture, ..... 32 

Vegetable matter, . . . .58 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : — 

Alumina, , . . . ; 2.400 

Oxide of iron, ..... 1.680 

Lime, ..... 3.200 

Phosphoric acid, . . - . 0.200 

Potash, ..... trace, 

effervesced slightly. 

O. — Eutaw, (Jas, Gaillard,) unmarled, in lOOOparts. 

1 

Sand, ...... 850 

Clay, .. = ... 100 

Moisture, . . .25 

Vegetable matter, ..... 25 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. 11 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : 

1 



Alumina, ..... 1.800 

Oxide of iron, ..... 1,420 

Lime, ..... 0.550 

Phosphoric acid, .... 0.050 

Chlorine, ..... trace. 

Soda and potash, .... trace. 

Sulphuric acid, .... trace. 

Y.— Wahvorth, (T. W. PorcherJ in 1000 parts. 

1 



Sand, ...... 720 

Clay, ...... 180 

Moisture, ..... 40 

Vegetable matter, ..... 60 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : 



Alumina, ..... 3.200 

Oxide of iron, ..... 0.900 

Lime, ..... 0.350 

Phosphoric acid, .... 0.075 
Potash, ..... 

R. — Mexico, fS. Porc/terJ in 1000 parts. 



Sand, ...... 705 

Clay, . . . • . .250 

Moisture, . . . . . 20 

Vegetable matter, . . . . .25 

The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- 
nished : — 

1 

Alumina, . ... . . 3.300 

Oxide of iron. ..... 2.500 

Lime, ..... L260 

Phosphoric acid, .... 0.030 

Chlorine, . . ; . . trace. 

Potash and soda, ..... trace. 

Sulphuric acid, .... trace. 



12 



ON THE COMPOSITION OP COTTON SOILS. 



The following is a tabular view of the composition of the soils. 



In 1000 parts. 



Soil. 



A 1 

A2 
B ] 
B2 
C 1 
C 2 
I) I 
D2 
R 

F 1 
F2 

(; 

H I 
II 2 
1 

J 1 
J 2 
K 1 
K2 
L 1 
L 2 
M i 
M2 
N 1 
O 
P 
R 



Portion o/lOOO parts soluble in warm muriatic 
acid. 




riatic 

.2 

c 
J" 


^ "o 

u 


0.30 




0.20 




0.10 




05 




25 




O.IO 




0.38 




0.13 




0.15 










From ihese analysis I slioultl certainly conclude that A and II 
were the best soils, on account of the larger propoition of ])hospho- 
licacid contained in them. Of these two, 1 am disposed to think 
that H will be found the better, fiom it containing more potash, 
chlorine, and sulphuric acid than A, although it has not quite as 
mucli phosphoric acid ; a little dressing of leeched ashes placed 
imniediately around the plant, will very probably improve the 
growth of the cotton. The next best, according to these analysis, 
would appear to be B. D. I. K. L. N.. But B. D. and K are said 
to rust cotton, the cause of which I will allude to in another part of 
this report, at least so far as 1 have been able to make it out. All 
the others I should consider as being able to grow cotton fairly, 
pxcept E, which would appear to be unfitted for almost any plant. 
It is not the province of this report, to enter upon the various 
methods (jf improving these cotton soils, but it may not be out of 
place, to state one thing that occurs to my mind, bearing upon the 
yvants of the plant, and character of the soils. It is, to let the la- 



CAUSE OF RUST IN COTTON. 13 

borer when he thins out for the last time, carry with him a bag 
containing a mixture of ground bones, (about as fine as river sand) 
mixed with an equal quantity of leeched ashes, and at the root of 
every stalk he leaves standing, throw a good handful immediately 
around it. In fact there is little doubt but that it will be found far 
more beneficial as a manure than cotton seed, and requiring a much 
less quantity. 

The Ashley river marls and all such marls as contain from 4 to 10 
per cent, of phosphate of lime, will answer well to put on the top of 
the ridges after the planting of the seed. 

In a letter received from Mr. F. A. Porcher, accompanying the 
soils, he stated, that F and G are representations of soils not very 
rich, but very safe ; and reference to my analysis will bear this out. 
I should have stated, although I have no mention made of what sort 
of soil C is found to be, that I consider it a very inferior one. If 
any general conclusion can be arrived at from the analysis, it is, 
that cotton soils — every thing else being alike — is valuable according to 
the amount qfphospJwric acid jjresent. 

The last point to be considered in this report is that oi rust in 
cotton, and here every thing is to be learnt. Rust, as a term in ag- 
riculture, is in about the same position as that of dispepsia in medi- 
cine. It is a name given to a variety of diseases which have some 
resemblance to each other, but are widely different as to their causes. 
The rust properly speaking, and which so commonly attacks wheat, 
ia certainly a kind of parasitic plant of the class of fungi, that grows 
on the stalk, leaves, &c., of the wheat and other grain, under certain 
disadvantageous circumstances of weather and season. The seeds 
of this parasite are wafted by the breeze to the spot where it ger- 
minates ; it takes root into the body of the stalk and interrupts the 
maturation of the seed. This rust is somewhat the color of iron 
rust, from which it derives its name ; it readily detatches itself, and 
when burnt, leaves a little ashes. Now 1 am not aware that rust of 
this description has ever been known to infect cotton, that which 
attacks cotton shows no fungus growth, but under the effects of it, 
the plant becomes blighted, changes in color and dies. 

To arrive at the true cause of the rust of cotton, the planter will 
have, by very close examination, to distinguish between the different 
kinds (if there be any difference) and mark well the influences that 
are operating upon the plant at the time they occur. When he goes 
as far as he can in this, let him call to his aid the chemist, give him 
the rusted cotton stalk arid a healthn cotton, stalk of precisely the same 
size and growth, as well as a portion of the soil taken up at the lime 
the effects are noted. In acting in this way, the planter may hope 
to find out the causes of this blight, and they will of course point out 
the remedy, which if practicable, will meet all the wishes and I'epay 
the labor of the planter. It is not a rigorous method of comparison, 
to examine the ashes of healthy and diseased plants, unless they are 
of the same stage of growth, for ashes of plants differ with their age. 
Wheat-straw, just before the grain begins to form, contain some of 



14 CAUSE OF RUST IN COTTON. 

those ingredients that afterwards abandon to a great degree the 
straw and pass into the grain, making a decided difference between 
the ashes of young and matured wheat straw. 

My examination into the cause of the rust is very imperfect, not 
having been furnished, as you must now see, with the proper data to 
go upon in my investigation ; but what has been done shall be made 
known to your body. I have no doubt that the peculiarity of sea- 
sons may produce these diseases as well as animalculfe developed 
in the soil ; but my firm belief is, that noxious substances in the soil 
are frequently the causes, and they are more commonly some of 
the preparations of iron — the protoxide of iron especially. This pro- 
toxide was found by me in much larger quantities in D and K, 
particularly in K, than any of the other soils, in fact some of them 
contained none of it. 

I can pronounce with but little confidence upon any thing brought 
to light by the analysis of the cotton stalks, for the healthy and rust- 
ed stalks placed in my hands, differed too much in size and age, to 
furnish much information from the comparative composition of their 
ashes. But I did all that it was possible to do under the circum- 
stances. There was decided difference in the amount of ox«Ze o/" 
iron in the two ashes : in the ashes of the full grown healthy plant, 
it was only one half per cent., while in the ashes of the one diseased, 
it was two and a quarter per cent. The phosphoric acid of the two 
did not differ materially, the healthy having nine, and the diseased 
eight percent. The proportion of lime was different, the diseased 
forty, and the healthy thirty per cent. The proportion of potash in 
the diseased was fifteen per cent., while that of the healthy stalk 
was twenty-four. 

The protoxide of iron alluded to above, is by exposure to the at- 
mosphere, converted into the peroxide, a form from which no inju- 
rious effect may be expected, except when in very great excess ; so 
I would suggest that in planting these lands, which rust cotton, as 
D and K, to disturb the surface as little as possible. This I know 
to answer in the case of certain soils that were examined for Dr. 
Townsend, of John's Island. 

I am sorry that my unavoidable absence from America, will render 
it impossible to prosecute these labors, commenced under the 
auspices of your Society, and I regret it the more since much time 
has been consumed in fixing upon methods best suited for carrying 
on these investigations. I hope, however, that the active part taken 
by you in inquring into the true nature of the circumstances govern- 
ing the growth of cotton, will be crowned with the success it deserves, 
and that the report may aid in pointing out the right course to be 
pursued. 




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